1  estimony  of  Missionaries 

fpp  jp?. 

Bible  Convention. 

/rrs. 


AMERICAN  A FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


STANDARD  BEARERS, 


1  HE  TESTIMONY  OF  OUR  HONORED  AND 

trusted  Brethren,  as  to  the 
NECESSITY  OF  A  BlBLE  SOCIETY 

for  Baptists. 


Foreign  Field. 


Rev.  WM.  DEAN,  D.D., — 

49  years  a  Missionary. 

“  N.  BROWN,  D.D.,— 

47  “ 

“  D.  L.  BRAYTON,  D.D., 

-46  “ 

“  E.  B.  CROSS,  D.D.,— 

39  " 

“  N.  HARRIS,  D.D.,— 

37  “ 

“  L.  JEWETT,  D.D.,— 

35  “ 

“  A.  T.  ROSE,— 

3°  “ 

“  A.  V.  TIMPANY,— 

16 

“  J.  McLAUREN.— 

>5  " 

“  E.  W.  CLARK,— 

15  “ 

“  E.  G.  PHILLIPS,— 

9  “ 

“  W.  B.  BOGGS,— 

5  “ 

“  P.  H.  MOORE,— 

4  “ 

Home  Field. 

J.  CONANT,  D.D. 

Rev.  W.  J.  STEW 

Published  bv  Order 

of  the  Board, 

REV.  F.  A.  DOUGLASS,  Corresponding  Secretary, 

116  NASSAU  STREET,  - 

NEW  YORK  CITY. 

WHAT  IS  SAID  BY  MEN  OH  THE  FIELD. 


Several  months  ago  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  through 
its  Secretary,  sent  to  each  Baptist  missionary  in  the  foreign  field  a  circu¬ 
lar  containing  the  following  questions,  which  they  were  requested  to  an¬ 
swer.  This  was  done  that  the  Society  and  brethren  who  will  compose  the 
Bible  Convention  to  be  held  at  Saratoga  might  learn  the  opinions  held  by 
the  men  on  the  several  fields,  as  to  the  necessity  or  desirableness  of  a  sep¬ 
arate  Society  for  doing  the  Bible  work  of  the  Denomination: 

First.- — Have  not  the  millions  of  our  race,  perishing  for  a  lack  of  knowledge 
of  God's  Word,  or  led  into  error  by  corrupt  translations,  paramount  claims  upon 
Baptists  to  give  them  the  pure  Word  of  God  ? 

Second. — Accepting  the  inspired  Hebrew  and  Greek  alone  as  authority,  is  it 
not  our  duty  to  translate  every  term  susceptible  of  translation,  with  the  greatest 
fidelity,  in  all  versions,  thus  giving,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  to  every  reader  the  mind 
of  the  Spirit,  and  expressing  Christ’s  commands  as  plainly  as  they  were  uttered 
to  the  generation  who  first  heard  them  from  the  lips  of  the  Master  or  his  apostles, 
being  governed  by  loyalty  to  God  and  fidelity  to  men  alone,  and  not  by  worldly 
policy?  . 

Third.— Can  the  terms  of  discipleship  in  the  New  Testament  be  translated,  or 
must  they  be  transferred,  leaving  to  the  preacher  or  teacher  to  explain  their 
meaning  ? 

Fourth.— If  we  may  compromise  the  commands  of  Christ  in  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  thus  denying  God’s  right  to  speak  to  his  creatures,  for  the  sake  of  so-called 
peace,  may  we  not  for  the  same  reason  do  it  in  the  pulpit,  the  press,  or  the  theo¬ 
logical  school,  thus  obliterating  the  lines  which  distinguish  us  from  other 
Denominations  ? 

Fifth. — Shall  Baptists,  like  other  Denominations,  do  their  Bible  work  at  home 
and  abroad,  through  Bible  Societies,  or  without  any? 

Sixth. — Should  the  only  Society — the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society — 
ever  formed  by  a  representative  convention  of  American  Baptists  be  obstructed 
and  destroyed  without  first  appealing  to  the  churches,  and  through  them  to  a 
representative  convention  such  as  called  it  into  existence  ? 

Seventh. — As  Baptists  have  been  pioneers  in  Bible  translation,  projectors  of 
Bible  Societies,  and  of  the  late  movement  for  enforcing  faithful  translations  in  all 
languages,  should  they  not  how  unite  in  a  national  and  international  Bible  Socie¬ 
ty,  as  a  symbol  and  bond  of  their  unity  and  banner  of  their  progress  ? 


4 


By  direction  of  the  Board  of  the  Society  every  reply  received  up  to  this  time, 
from  the  foreign  field,  is  now  given  in  the  accompanying  pamphlet,  with  a 
single  exception  of  the  letter  of  Rev.  A.  Loughridge,  that  having  been 
already  published  and  widely  circulated  through  the  courtesy  of  the  New 
Y ork  Examiner ,  to  which  an  offer  of  all  the  other  letters  was  made ,  but  not  accepted. 
These  now  are,  for  the  first  time,  made  public;  and  the  Board  respectfully 
request  a  careful  perusal  of  the  opinions  therein  presented  by  men  who, 
from  their  position  and  many  years  service,  should  be  best  qualified  to  judge 
of  the  necessities  of  the  foreign  field.  We  give  first,  the  following  letter: 

Rev.  William  Dean,  D.D.,  Bangkok,  Siam,  September  \&th,  1882. 

(49  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother: — I  send  you  an  affirmative  answer  to  six  of  the  seven 
questions  in  your  circular  for  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 
To  this  question:  “Should  the  only  Society — the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society — ever  formed  by  a  representative  convention  of  American 
Baptists  be  obstructed  and  destroyed  without  first  appealing  to  the 
churches,  and  through  them  to  a  representative  convention  such  as  called 
into  existence  ?  No. 

As  Baptists,  we  owe  it  to  ourselves  and  to  the  progress  of  Christian 
truth,  to  maintain  a  distinct  organization  for  the  faithful  translation  and  gen¬ 
erous  distribution  of  the  Bible  in  all  lands  and  in  every  language  of 
the  world.  The  American  Bible  Society  and  the  British  and  For¬ 
eign  Bible  Society  have  European  salaried  agents  employed  solely  for 
the  distribution  of  the  Bible  in  Asiatic  countries.  The  millions 
of  copies  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  they  are  putting  into  circulation 
throughout  the  heathen  world  have  each  Baptisma,  either  transferred  or 
erroneously  translated.  In  China  Episcopalians,  Congregationalists,  Luth¬ 
erans,  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  and  Romanists  all  render  the  term  by 
“Soi  Loi,”  which  signifies  washing  ceremony. 

The  few  copies  of  the  New  Testament  translated  by  the  Baptists  render 
the  word  by  terms  which  signify  to  dip  or  immerse.  We  may  use  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  press  at  Shanghai,  the  Methodist  Press  at  Fuchau,  or  the  wood 
blocks  of  the  Chinese,  if  we  pay  the  expense,  but  never  at  the  expense  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  or  the  American  Bible  Society,  nor 
the  Chinese  block-cutter. 

Baptist  missionaries  have  printed  editions  of  the  New  Testament  and 
portions  of  the  Old  Testament  on  these  terms,  and  we  may  continue  to  do 
so,  provided  we  are  supplied  with  funds  to  pay  the  bills,  or  the  Baptists 
build  a  printing-press  of  their  own  in  China.  We  had  one  in  Bangkok, 
with  Chinese,  Siamese,  and  English  type,  which  in  1851,  were  all  destroyed 
by  fire.  Since  which  time  our  Chinese  printing  has  been  done  in  China, 
and  our  Siamese  at  the  office  of  the  Presbyterian  press  or  the  private  press 
of  Rev.  S.  J.  Smith  at  Bangkok,  who  is  printing  Siamese  books  on  a  large 


5 


scale,  and  has  recently  agitated  the  question  of  procuring  a  font  of  Chinese 
type.  We  are  not  wanting  facilities  for  printing  the  Scriptures,  provided 
we  have  the  money.  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  and  the 
American  Bible  Society  are  very  generous  to  make  us  grants  of  Bibles  of 
their  own  versions,  but  in  no  case  would  donate  to  us  an  edition  of  the  Bi¬ 
ble  translated  by  a  Baptist,  or  where  baptisma  was  translated  immerse. 

The  time  has  come  when  the  wants  of  the  heathen  world  for  the  Word 
of  God  furnish  a  worthy  object  for  the  efforts  of  an  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  and  the  combined  energies  of  the  Baptist  Denomination. 

At  the  same  time  our  foreign  missions,  as  by  the  last  Annual  Report, 
are  assuming  such  mammoth  proportions  and  far-reaching  promise  as  to 
engross  the  thought  and  exhaust  the  energies  of  any  one  benevolent 
society. 

* 

When  the  old  missions ,  now  suffering  for  want  of  reinforcements ,  and  new 
fields  of  promise  now  opening  for  more  missionary  labor  are  all  supplied,  then,  if 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Missionary  Union  have  leisure  and  ability  for 
extra  work,  let  the  burden  be  rolled  upon  them;  but  such  are  not  now  the  signs  of 
the  times. 


Rev.  E.  B.  Cross,  D.D.,  Toungoo,  Burmah,  December  ist,  ,1882. 

(39  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother: — I  have  just  received  a  circular  addressed  to  “The  Bap¬ 
tists  of  America,’-  which  has  the  sanction  of  committees  appointed  by  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  the  American  Baptist  Missionary 
Union,  and  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society;  and  in  a  note  accom¬ 
panying  the  circular,  you  ask  my  views  on  the  questions  stated  by  these 
committees.  As  there  seems  time  for  a  reply  to  reach  you  before  the  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  proposed  convention  in  May,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  express  my 
thanks  to  God  that  he  has  stirred  the  minds  of  Baptists  of  America,  and 
opened  a  door  wide  and  effectual,  as  never  before,  to  enter  gloriously  and 
unhampered  into  the  greatest  work  which  he  has  left  for  his  people,  to  give 
his  own  commandments  to  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

“The  paramount  claims  upon  Baptists  to  give  the  pure  word  of  God.” 

As  it  is  plain  that  since  all  other  Denominations  have  entangled  them¬ 
selves  with  compromises,  which  make  them  incapable  of  translating  the 
great  commission  of  the  Saviour,  which  contains  in  itself  his  will  and  tes¬ 
tament,  there  are  none  left  to  do  it  if  Baptists  will  not.  Let  them  honor 
their  Divine  Master,  and  bear  his  standard  when  and  where  others  will  not. 
It  shall  be  their  glory  when  the  word  “well  done”  and  faithful  is 
pronounced. 

“Should  Baptists  do  their  Bible  work  with  or  without  a  Bible  society  ?” 

There  will  be  two  views  taken  of  this  question,  and  these  views  will 
turn  on  the  single  view  of  the  extent  and  importance  of  the  work  itself. 


6 


All  works  of  great  importance  and  great  extent  inspire  and  draw  of  their 
o\\  n  force  organized  bands  and  companies  just  in  proportion  as  they  are 
regaided  as  important  and  extensive.  This  is  true  everywhere,  and  the 
children  of  this  world  are  often  wiser  in  their  generation  than  the  children 
of  light. 

If  the  work  is  great  and  important  it  cannot  be  carried  on  in  any  ade¬ 
quate  sense  without  a  separate  organization.  This  all  Denominations  have 
proved.  I  know  of  no  instance  in  which  one  organization  or  society  has 
accomplished  two  great  objects  at  the  same  time.  One  great  object  is,  and 
should  be,  its  master;  and  no  man  can  serve  two  masters.  If  it  is  a  great 
object— and  where  on  earth  is  there  a  greater  ?— we  must  take  hold  of  it  as 
a  one  work.  It  is  not  a  branch,  but  a  vine.  It  has  branches ,  but  is  itself  the  root  and 
fatness  of  the  olive  tree. 

On  the  field,  where  a  distinctive  Baptist  Bible  society  seems  to  be  espe¬ 
cially  needed,  it  is  quite  beyond  my  reach  to  see  that  any  great  improve¬ 
ment  could  be  made  in  the  constitution  of  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  If  it  can  be  improved,  may  God  grant  the  wisdom  to  do  it.  If  it 
is  almost,  if  not  exactly  what  we  want,  may  God  scatter  the  prejudice 
which  exists  against  it.  It  is  my  opinion  that  this  should  be  done. 

Baptists,  it  seems,  directly  projected  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So¬ 
ciety,  and  consequently  the  American  Bible  Society.  And  this  organiza¬ 
tion  of  the  Bible  Union  seems  almost  directly  to  have  been  the  cause  of  the 
New,  or  Canterbury,  Revision.  And  it  cannot  be  boasting  on  their  part, 
to  say  that  their  versions  in  China,  Siam,  India,  Burmah,  and  Japan,  are  not 
only  pioneer,  but  have  a  superiority  above  all  others.  In  Burmah,  it  may 
be  said  without  hesitation,  that  no  Pedo-baptist  people  can  enter  the  field 
with  rival  translations  to  those  already  made,  or  being  made,  by  us,  in  all 
the  principal  languages  of  the  country.  All  that  the  Bishop  of  Rangoon 
proposed  to  the  American  Bible  Society  to  do  was  to  take  a  Baptist  trans¬ 
lation,  and  blot  out  from  it  the  meaning  of  Christ’s  will  and  testament,*  and 
send  it  forth  a  garbled  book,  in  Burmese  and  Karen. 

If  Baptists  have  no  rivals  in  the  promptness  and  excellence  of  their 
translations,  their  place  certainly  should  be  in  the  front  rank  of  those  who 
aspire,  and  liberally  and  earnestly  labor  to  give  the  Bible  to  every 
creature. 

Oh,  who  can  arouse  the  body  of  Christ’s  people  who  abide  by  his  word 
only,  and  fire  them  all  with  the  spirit  with  which  he  has  fired  the  few,  even 
those  who  have  led  the  world  in  the  organization  of  Bible  societies;  and  in 
giving  translations  of  superior  excellence  and  faithfulness  in  every  field 
which  they  have  entered!  The  few  call  to  us  from  their  graves  ;  cry,  rather, 
from  their  abode  in  heaven,  and  the  few  others  from  the  weary  field  of  their 
labors.  Their  locks  maybe  white  and  their  hand  trembling,  but  they  hold 

*  By  transliterating  the  Greek  word  Bafitisma,  spelling  the  word  into  the  Burmese  and  Karen  New 
Testament,  by  using  Burmese  and  Karen  Letters— the  same  as  is  done  with  Roman  letters  in  our  English  New 
Testament,  instead  of  translating  as  Judson  and  Mason  did,  Baptazein. 


7 


up  firmly  the  banner  of  God,  and  call  to  us,  Onward,  onward,  O  Baptists! 
Why  stop  ye?  Why  slink  as  weaklings  and  dastards  from  your  place? 
Give  it  not  up  to  those  who  have  never  claimed  it.  Fall  not  back  to  the 
rear,  nor  shame  the  faces  of  those  who  call  to  you  from  heaven,  or  from  the 
field  of  their  toil  and  want.  You  have  called  them  your  leaders.  Their 
names  are  your  watchword  and  your  glory.  Arouse,  O  people  of  the  hon¬ 
ored  dead!  Awake!  Come  to  the  place  of  duty  and  your  birthright.  Let 
it  not  be  said  that  a  people  who  claim  to  be  peculiar  in  their  adherence  to 
the  Bible,  and  who  furnish  men  to  be  first  of  all  to  translate  it  without 
compromise,  and  plan  for  its  universal  distribution,  should  nevertheless  be 
most  confused  and  weakest  of  all  in  their  combination  and  concert  to 
carry  out  their  own  professions  in  regard  to  it. 


Rev.  Norman  Harris,  D.D.,  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  October ,  1882. 

(37  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

My  hearty  affirmative  answer  to  all  your  questions,  save  one.  Certainly 
retain  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 


Rev.  D.  L.  Brayton,  D.D.,  Rangoon,  British  Burmah,  March  8th,  1883. 

(46  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother:— I  am  most  deeply  interested  in  this  Bible  question, 
and  have  been  thinking  much  of  the  convention  that  is  to  meet  in  May. 
Having  spent  so  many  years  in  efforts  to  impress  upon  the  Pwo  Karens  the 
great  truths  of  that  holy  book,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  having  spent 
more  or  less  time  every  year  in  laboring  to  put  its  precious  words  in  their 
language;  and  from  personal  experience  and  observation  knowing  some¬ 
thing  of  the  importance  and  vast  magnitude  of  the  Bible  work,  I  feel  much 
interest  in  regard  to  that  convention.  I  do  earnestly  hope  and  pray  that 
the  result  will  be  a  distinct  society  for  Bible  work;  a  society  which  will 
devote  its  energies  earnestly,  undividedly,  and  continually  to  the  great  and 
responsible  work  of  giving  a  pure  Bible  to  the  nations  of  the  world.  I  am 
not  anxious  about  the  mere  name  of  the  society.  That  is  a  small  matter 
But  the  work  to  be  done!  Who  can  measure  its  height  or  fathom  its  depth  ! 
What  a  boundless  ocean  is  here  spread  out  to  our  view  !  If  there  be  the 
right  men  to  manage  such  a  society  they  certainly  will  find  work  enough 
to  engage  their  largest  powers  and  to  fire  their  most  ardent  zeal  Instead 
of  lowering  the  importance  of  the  work  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  we  want 
them  to  feel  that  it  is  of  such  vast  proportions  that  its  dimensions  are  ab- 
solutely  beyond  the  power  of  human  computation, 

It  seems  to  me  that  those  who  want  to  put  this  great  work  into  the 
hands  of  our  good  Missionary  Union,  lose  sight  of  the  vastness  of  the 


'8 


work  in  itself  considered.  That  in  so  doing  they  are  actuated  by  the  purest 
intentions,  I  would  not  for  a  moment  question.  But  sincerity  is  no  evi¬ 
dence  of  being  on  the  right  side.  Paul  verily  thought  that  he  ought  to  do 
many  things  contrary  to  the  name  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  ;  yet  that  did  not 
make  him  right  in  his  conduct.  The  moment  you  put  this  into  the  hands 
of  the  Missionary  Union,  you  belittle  the  work  in  the  eyes  of  the  multi¬ 
tude,  and  thousands  will  say,  “Well,  if  in  addition  to  all  their  multiplied 
duties,  the  Missionary  Union  can  take  on  this  Bible  work,  then  that  work 
can  not  be  of  any  great  consequence.”  We  need  a  society  which  will  be  at 
perfect  liberty  to  put  forth  its  entire  undivided  efforts  to  this  one  great  work. 
And  among  the  first  things  necessary  to  be  done  would  be  to  give  us  a 
faithful  translation  in  English.  It  is,  indeed,  appalling  to  think  of  the 
result  of  an  unfaithful  translation  in  the  English  language.  In  the  educa¬ 
tional  work  of  the  world  there  are  abundance  of  facts  to  show  the  rapidity 
with  which  the  English  language  is  spreading  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  A  scientific  writer  has  lately  said,  “  The  English  language  is  rapidlv 
becoming  the  language  of  the  world.” 

Hence  when  we  make  a  correct  translation,  and  our  converts,  many  of 
whom  read  the  English  Bible,  compare  our  translations  into  their  language 
with  our  English  translation,  they  are  puzzled,  and  no  wonder,  for  there  is 
a  cause. 

Hence  I  do  hope  and  pray  that  we  may  have  a  society  which  will’have 
the  moral  courage  and  determination  to  do  the  right  thing  in  regard  to  our 
English  Bible.  Should  this  be  done,  that  there  are  those  who  would  raise  a 
hue  and  cry  in  a  sneering  tone,  “  A  Baptist  Bible!”  I  have  no  doubt.  But 
suppose  they  do  wail  and  writhe,  what  then  ?  Are  we,  as  Baptists  and 
soldiers  of  the  cross,  afraid  of  a  little  ridicule  ?  If  a  faithful  translation 
should  give  us  a  “ Baptist  Bible,”  where  is  the  blame  ?  If  any  one  has  any 
fault  to  find  he  should  go  to  headquarters,  to  Him  who  gave  the  Bible,  and 
there  present  his  objections.  The  faithful  translator  certainly  can  not,  on 
that  account,  be  in  the  fault.  No,  my  brother,  let  us  go  ahead  for  the  Mas¬ 
ter.  We  are  not  laboring  for  ourselves,  nor  for  this  generation  alone  ;  our 
work  will  have  its  influence  as  long  as  earth’s  generations  continue  to 
come  and  go. 

Let  us  be  honest  with  God.  Let  us  do  with  our  might  what  our  hands 
find  to  do  !  Time  is  short.  Our  opportunities  to  work  for  the  Master  will 
soon  be  gone  !  May  we  all  be  prepared  to  meet  the  account  in  peace  ! 


Rev.  E.  W.  Clark,  Amguri,  Assam,  27 th  September,  1882. 

(15  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother  The  Annual  Report  of  the  American  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  with  the  sermons  of  Drs.  Winkler  and  Armitage,  just  now 
received.  Many  thanks.  The  Examiner  deserves  the  thanks  of  the  Denomi- 


9 


nation  for  some  rebukes  it  has  administered  to  the  American  Baptist  Publi¬ 
cation  Society,  notably  in  its  report  of  the  Anniversary  Meeting  at  Indian¬ 
apolis  in  1881,  whereby  it  called  attention  to  the  somewhat  overweening 
ambition  of  that  society,  and  its  little  regard  to  the  interests  of  other 
organizations,  if  only  its  own  could  be  promoted.  I  am  hoping  that  the 
good  sense  of  the  Denomination  will  recognize  the  fact  that  it  would  be 
unwise  to  further  inflate  that  society  by  giving  to  it  the  home  Bible  work. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Missionary  Union,  have  for  the  last 
three  years  or  so,  kept  it  pretty  well  before  our  churches  in  America,  that 
they  were  able  to  collect  and  provide  for  the  Bible  work  in  our  foreign 
missions  The  committee  has  had  an  opportunity  to  see  what  it  could  do 
with  little  or  no  opposition,  as  I  suppose.  In  the  meantime  foreign  mission 
work  has  been  prosperous  and  calling  for  larger  appropriations.  There 
has  been  commercial  prosperity  at  home.  In  short,  the  committee  has  had 
a  rare  opportunity  to  show,  by  increase  of  collections,  that  the  Missionary 
Union  was  able  to  carry  the  Bible  work  in  addition  to  its  other  work. 

What  has  been  the  result  ?  The  last  Annual  Report  of  the  committee 
calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  has  been  no  increase  of  contributions 
from  the  churches.  This  is  astonishing.  Circumstances  all  favorable  for 
a  large  increase,  yet  none  !  Why,  the  usual  work  of  the  Missionary  Union, 
let  alone  Bible  work,  has  been  loudly  calling  for  more  missionaries  and 
more  money  contributions  for  Bible  work  also  solicited,  and  this  in  times 
of  general  prosperity  at  home  ;  yet  no  increase  in  the  gifts  of  the  churches 
to  the  treasury  of  the  Missionary  Union. 

I  think  it  would  be  a  capital  thing  if  the  Baptists  of  the  United  States 
would  unite  in  one  Bible  Society,  extending  a  welcome  to  the  Canadian 
Baptists,  if  they  are  disposed  to  join  the  society. 


Rev.  E.  G.  Phillips,  Tura,  Assam,  September  18 th,  1882. 

(9  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother  : — Mr.  Moore,  our  Mission  Treasurer,  has  sent  me  your 
circular,  “  To  the  Baptists  of  America,”  with  the  request  that  I  send  you 
my  answer  to  the  seven  questions  given. 

To  the  first  I  would  say,  Yes,  because  the  second  and  third  must  be 
answered  decidedly  in  the  affirmative,  and  other  Denominations  do  not 
seem  willing  to  answer  them  and  so  live  up  to  the  answers.  I  fail  to  see  how 
we  can  be  truly  loyal  to  Christ,  and  not  translate  every  word  susceptible 
of  translating,  giving  the  idea  given  by  Christ  as  closely  as  possible. 

To  the  fourth  I  would  say,  Yes,  with  the  added  remark  that  the  supposi¬ 
tion  is  decidedly  contrary  to  reality. 

In  answer  to  these  four  questions,  I  suppose  the  voice  of  the  Denomina¬ 
tion  would  be  well  nigh  unanimous,  the  question  being  as  to  through  what 


IO 


channel  the  work  shall  be  done.  This  brings  me  to  the  fifth  question,  as  to 
the  answer  to  which  I  feel  less  certain.  So  far  as  Bible  work  in  foreign 
lands  is  concerned,  I  believe  that  our  work  could  be  done  through  our 
Missionary  Union,  with  less  expenditure  of  means  and  men,  and  be  done 
equally  well,  or  better  than  if  done  through  a  separate  society.  The  only 
question  is,  Would  the  home  part  of  the  foreign  work,  that  is,  the  collec¬ 
tion  of  funds,  be  carried  on  as  efficiently  ?  Would  the  decrease  in  the 
collection  of  funds,  if  made  by  the  Missionary  Union,  more  than  counter¬ 
balance  the  saving,  on  the  score  of  means  and  men  consumed  in  the  work¬ 
ing  of  a  separate  society  ?  Such  a  decrease  ought  not  surely  to  occur.  The 
answer  of  this  may  better  be  left  to  those  better  acquainted  with  work  in 
the  churches. 

I  should  say,  that  if,  in  the  opinion  of  those  qualified  to  judge,  Bible 
work,  foreign  and  home,  would  be  better  maintained  if  conducted  by  one 
society,  than  if  done  through  the  Missionary  Union  and  Publication 
Society,  and  enough  better  so  as  to  more  than  make  up  for  the  extra 
expense  in  men  and  means  necessary  to  conducting  a  separate  Bible 
Society,  I  would  say  that  such  a  society  ought  to  be  maintained,  otherwise  I 
could  see  no  good  reason  for  so  doing.  I  certainly  see  no  reason  why  the  work 
accomplished  here  would  be  any  different,  whether  the  funds  came  through 
the  Missionary  Union,  or  through  a  Bible  Society.  I  would  think  the  same 
would  be  true  at  home. 

I  pray  that  the  wisest  plan  may  be  decided  upon  for  the  whole  work, 
that  which  will  result  in  best  bringing  the  blessed  book  in  its  purity  to  the 
greatest  number  of  the  race. 


Rev.  P.  H.  Moore,  Nowgong,  Assam,  India,  nth  September,  1882. 

(4  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY  ) 

Dear  Brother  Your  letter  of  the  26th  July  was  duly  received.  I 
think  we  can  all  agree  that  we  ought  to  carry  out  a  vigorous  Bible  policy, 
but,  according  to  my  best  judgment,  the  same  amount  of  force  expended 
through  the  Missionary  Union  and  Publication  Society,  will  accomplish 
much  more  than  if  expended  through  a  separate  society.  If  these  two 
societies  have  neglected  Bible  work,  let  them  be  stirred  up  to  new  zeal. 

Arguments  for  more  Bible  work  are  not  necessarily  arguments  for  more 
societies. 

I  believe  in  utilizing  more  fully  the  channels  already  opened,  instead  of 
opening  new  ones  before  they  are  required. 


Rev.  L.  Jewett,  D.D.,  Madras,  India,  September  30 th,  1882. 

(35  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

It  seems  to  me  that  our  Bible  work  demands  two  societies,  one  for  the 
home  and  one  for  the  foreign  work,  in  order  that  when  the  agents  come 
before  the  churches  to  take  up  contributions,  those  who  give  may  know 
for  what  they  are  giving,  for  home  or  foreign  work. 

Bible  societies  make  the  work  of  collecting  money  embarrassing  to 
their  collecting  agents.  I  speak  from  knowledge  of  facts.  The  American 
Baptist  Missionary  Union  has  agents  at  home  to  collect  money  for  the 
entire  work  of  foreign  missions.  And  they  have  agents  in  the  foreign 
field  to  preach,  to  teach,  to  translate  the  Scriptures,  to  prepare  tracts  and 
books,  and  to  distribute  all  these  publications.  No  class  is  hidden  from 
their  sight.  I  think  the  A.  B.  M.  Union  is  the  society  best  fitted  to  do  our 
foreign  Bible  work. 

What  society  shall  do  our  home  Bible  work  ?  I  think  Dr.  Griffith’s 
report  of  the  Baptist  Publication  Society  Bible  work  points  out  the  way  in 
which  all  Baptists  can  agree  to  work  together,  and  have  the  different  trans¬ 
lations  of  the  Scriptures  on  the  same  shelves. 

Remarks. — I  don’t  think  Baptists  should  desire  a  Bible  Society  in  order 
to  do  their  work  as  other  Denominations  do  theirs.  These  great,  rich  Bible 
societies  cannot  print  Bibles  with  notes  and  comments,  though  these  are 
useful,  as  they  are  on  the  Greek  and  Latin  classics,  and  as  needfnl.  They 
can  spend  money  on  colporteurs  to  sell  Scriptures,  but  they  cannot  raise 
up  the  colporteurs  and  fit  them  to  do  their  work  honestly.  They  can  not 
spend  a  penny  on  schools  for  the  masses  who  can  not  read  the  scriptures. 


Rev.  A.  V.  Timpany,  Cocanada,  South  India,  September  23d,  1882. 

(16  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother  : — It  seems  strange  that  any  one  in  this  day  of  the 
world  should  question  the  utility  and  necessity  of  Bible  Societies.  Certainly 
there  are  none  but  some  Baptists  who  do  this. 

It  is  pretty  plain,  I  think,  to  any  one  who  has  given  the  slightest  atten¬ 
tion  to  this  subject,  that  we  Baptists  cannot  expect  fair  treatment  in  Bible 
work  with  Pedo-Baptists.  It  all  comes  to  the  same  thing  in  the  end — sur¬ 
render  of  our  principles.  If  you  American  Baptists  do  not  have  a  society 
whose  only  duty  it  shall  be  to  circulate  pure  translations  of  God’s  Word, 
we  foreign  Baptist  missionaries  will  have  to  go  back,  sooner  or  later,  to 
where  we  have  been.  Be  thankful  for  such  favors  as  we  can  get  from 
societies  which  care  not  a  fig  for  our  convictions,  and  only  want  our  money, 
and  that  we  disturbers  of  Christendom  keep  quiet. 


12 


Rev.  John  McLauren,  (Pres  Theo.  Seminary),  Samalcotta,  Telugu 
Mission,  South  India.  (15  years  a  missionary.) 

I  do  believe  the  millions  of  our  race  have  special  claims  upon  Baptists 
to  give  them  the  pure  Word  of  God. 

a.  Because  Baptist  principles  alone  represent  the  mind  of  Christ. 

b.  Because  Baptist  translations  alone  reflect  the  mind  of  the  Spirit. 

I  believe  it  our  most  sacred  duty  to  translate  every  word  in  the  original 
capable  of  translation  by  its  most  exact  equivalent  in  the  vernacular  into 
which  the  translation  is  to  be  made.  Life  and  duty  do  not  depend  on  untrans¬ 
latable  words.  God  did  not  so  cripple  His  own  revelation. 

The  terms  of  discipleship  in  the  New  Testament  have  exact  equivalents  in 
every  language  on  the  face  of  the  earth ,  and,  therefore,  can  be  translated.  To 
transfer  is  to  obscure,  and  to  obscure  is  to  incur  God’s  displeasure.  Trans¬ 
ference  implies  a  reliance  on  the  teacher  for  the  truth.  This  is  Priestism, 
Popery.  This  is  not  a  Baptist  principle.  I  cannot  understand  a  Baptist 
compromise  of  God’s  Word.  To  me  it  is  awful,  unthinkable. 

Baptists  ought,  like  or  unlike  others,  to  do  their  Bible  work  throughout 
the  world,  through  a  Bible  society.  Let  the  Baptists  of  North  America  unite 
in  an  International  Bible  Society  to  give  God’s  Word  as  God  gave  it  to  the 
whole  world. 


TELUGU  MISSION. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Boggs,  in  charge  of  the  Theological  Seminary  writes  : — . 

(5  years  a  missionary.) 

Ramapatam,  Nellore  District,  India,  [ 

September ,  1882.  f 

Dear  Brother  : — Your  letter  of  July  24th,  and  also  the  circulars  by  a 
previous  mail,  have  come  to  hand.  I  have  read  with  deep  interest  the  ser¬ 
mon  of  Dr.  Armitage,  preached  before  the  society.  The  Bible  work  of 
Baptists  is,  or  ought  to  be,  one  of  such  vast  dimensions ,  considering  the  field, 
that  it  seems  most  reasonable  that  it  should  be  done  through  a  society  or 
societies.  To  decide  upon  the  fullest  data,  the  widest  experience,  and  the 
most  profound  wisdom,  what  the  best  way  is,  will,  I  presume,  be  the  chief 
object  of  the  approaching  convention.  May  the  wisdom  of  God  be  their 
guide. 

Could  the  Baptists  of  North  America,  at  this  very  time  when  there 
exists  much  enthusiasm  in  reference  to  Bible  work;  when  a  crisis  has  been 
reached  where  some  decided  course  of  action  must  be  taken  ;  could  all  the 
Baptists  of  North  America  now  unite  fully,  heartily,  determinedly ,  in  a  great 
purpose  and  endeavor  to  realize  the  fulfillment  of  the  motto  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  viz.:  “The  Bible  in  all  languages,  and  for 
all  people,”  it  would  be  one  of  the  grandest  steps  ever  taken  by  them — would 


13 


confer  untold  blessings  on  the  world,  and  redound  to  the  glory  of  God. 
May  the  Author  of  the  Bible  now  direct  His  people  to  the  adoption  of  the 
best  way  to  give  His  light  to  the  myriads  in  darkness. 


Rev.  Nathan  Brown,  D.D.,  Yokohama,  November ,  1882. 

(47  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Baptists  should  do  Bible  work  through  Bible  societies,  in  all  great  heathen 
countries;  and  probably  the  same  plan  will  be  more  effective  for  Christian 
countries  also.  Every  reason  which  existed  for  the  formation  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  now  exists  for  its  continuance. 

Baptists  are,  it  appears  to  me,  specially  called  on  to  go  forward  in  the 
great  work  of  Bible  translation  and  distribution  already  begun,  by  means 
of  national,  international,  or  sectional  societies,  as  they  may  deem  most 
efficient  for  the  progress  of  their  work.  These  societies  will  be  a  banner 
and  bond  of  denominational  unity  that  could  never  be  maintained  under 
any  system  of  sectarian  compromises. 

I  am  always  delighted  and  encouraged  when  1  see  such  excellent  arti¬ 
cles  in  The  Watch-Tower  as  those  of  Brother  Rose  and  others  in  favor  of 
the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  (or  another  just  like  it),  whose  sole 
business  it  shall  be  to  scatter  the  Word  of  God. 


Rev.  A.  T.  Rose,  Providence,  R.  1.,  April  28th ,  1883. 

(30  YEARS  A  MISSIONARY.) 

Dear  Brother: — I  am  profoundly  impressed  with  the  absolute  import¬ 
ance  of  the  most  perfect  translation  possible,  in  the  English  as  well  as  in 
all  other  languages.  I  believe  there  is  an  immense  Bible  work  at  home 
and  abroad  that  we  ought  to  do,  and  for  this  we  need  a  distinct  Bible  Society. 
I  endorse  heartily  the  principles  of  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
as  it  now  is.  I  am  in  hearty  accord  with  brethren  Bennett,  Brayton,  Cross, 
Smith  and  others  of  Burmah  ;  and  of  Brown  and  Dean  and  others  whose 
letters  I  have  read,  all  praying  for  a  distinct  Bible  Society.  Mrs.  Thomas, 
33  years  in  Burmah.  says,  “The  work  of  distributing  tracts  and  Scripture 
portions  ought  to  be  forthwith  increased  a  hundred  fold.”  (See  “Helping 
Hand”  for  April.)  I  fully  endorse  Mrs.  Thomas.  Rev.  D.  A.  W.  Smith, 
of  the  Rangoon  Karen  Theological  Seminary,  writes  to  Dr.  Cross: 

“The  present  activity  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union  in 
Bible  work,  is  a  fruit  of  this  controversy,  rather  than  permanent  enlight¬ 
ened  conviction;  and  if  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  should 
cease  to  exist,  I  fear  the  A.  B.  M.  Union  would  grow  lax  in  a  work  for 
which  they  receive  so  little  pecuniary  encouragement,  and  which  opposes 
some  of  their  announced  convictions.” 

I  fully  endorse  the  above  opinion  of  Brother  Smith. 


14 


Rev.  B.  W.  Whilden,  for  many  years  a  missionary  in  China,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  responds  in  the  most 
emphatic  language  to  the  circular  approving  of  a  distinct  Bible  Society  for 
the  Baptists  of  America. 


It  will  be  seen,  from  the  foregoing  letters,  how  largely  the  weight  of 
opinion  preponderates  in  favor  of  distinctive  Bible  work,  and  how  decided 
are  the  convictions  of  most  of  the  missionaries  of  the  largest  experience. 
Drs.  Dean,  Brown,  Brayton,  Timpany,  Cross,  Harris,  Boggs,  McLauren, 
Whilden,  Clark  and  Rose,  speak  with  the  emphasis  of  profound  conviction 
in  declaring  the  necessity  of  a  Bible  Society  for  Baptists.  Of  the  four  who 
question  the  necessity  for  such  a  Society,  one  (Rev.  P.  H.  Moore)  admits 
that  the  Missionary  Union,  which  he  thinks  might  do  it,  is  not  performing 
efficient  Bible  work  for  want  of  means,  and  he  regards  the  probability  of 
its  obtaining  such  means  as  being  extremely  doubtful.  A  second  (Rev.  E. 
G.  Phillips)  while  believing  the  Foreign  Bible  work  could  be  done  through 
the  M.  U.,  questions,  if  without  a  Bible  Society  the  home  part,  the  collec¬ 
tion  of  funds,  could  be  carried  on  as  efficiently,  and  believes  that  if  it  could 
not,  a  separate  Bible  Societ}r  ought  to  be  maintained.  The  third  (Dr.  Jew¬ 
ett)  objects  to  all  Bible  Societies,  because  they  “cannot  print  Bibles  with 
notes  and  comments,”  nor  “spend  a  penny  for  schools.”  A  fourth  whose 
experience  of  missionary  -  work  extends  over  a  few  years,  deems  no 
Bible  Society  needed,  because  it  is  inexpedient  to  multiply  channels  of 
benevolence. 

Compare  these  hesitating  and  qualified  utterances  with  the  ringing 
words  of  the  great  majority  of  missionaries  whose  opinions  have  been 
given,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  wherever  deep  convictions  exist,  born  of  long 
experience  and  extensive  observation  of  the  needs  of  the  heathen  world, 
they  find  expression  in  earnest  desires  for  a  Bible  Society  for  American 
Baptists. 

We  give  below,  but  two  of  the  many  letters  we  have  received  from  the 
Home  field,  in  response  to  the  circular,  calling  for  a  “Distinct  Bible  Society” 
to  do  the  Bible  work  of  the  Denomination.  All  say  in  substance,  most 
emphatically,  a  Bible  Society  for  Bible  work  ;  a  Missionary  Society  for 
mission  work  ;  a  Publication  Society  for  publication  work.  Each  has  its 
own  sphere,  and  to  fill  that  sphere  ought  to  be  its  ambition.  That  Dr.  Conant 
should  be  pronounced  in  his  belief  in  the  need  of  a  Bible  Society,  and  in 
his  love  for  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  certainly  not  any  of 
our  own  Denomination,  or  even  of  other  denominations  will  be  surprised. 
Neither  should  any  biblical  scholar  wonder  when  reading  his  able  article 
below,  to  find  him  in  so  cogent  an  argument,  insisting  upon  the  translation 
and  not  transliteration  of  Baptazein  in  the  English  Bible,  as  well  as  in  all 
other  languages. 


i5 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  March  pth,  1883. 

Rev.  T.  J.  Conant,  D.D.,  writes  as  follows: — I  submit  the  following  as  my 
personal  views  on  the  question  of  a  Bible  Society.  Certainly  we  need  a 
Bible  Society,  and  I  think  it  should  be  the  one  already  existing — the 
American  and  Foreign.  This  I  hold  for  the  following  reasons: 

First. —  It  was  called  into  existence  by  the  action  of  the  whole  Denomi¬ 
nation,  in  a  convention  assembled  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Second. — It  originated  in  the  open  and  avowed  withdrawal  of  Baptists 
of  America  from  the  self-styled  American  Bible  Society,  on  the  sole 
ground  that  its  funds,  contributed  by  Baptists  in  common  with  other 
religious  bodies,  were  wrongfully  withheld  from  faithful  translations  of 
the  Bible  by  our  missionaries,  and  granted  only  to  such  Bible  translations 
as  can  be  made  to  subserve  Denominational  interests. 

Third. — The  substitution  by  Baptists  of  another  Bible  Society  in  place 
of  it,  would  seem  to  be  an  acknowledgment  that  the  position  then  taken  by 
them  was  an  error,  and  that  there  was  no  ground  for  it,  or  for  the  implied 
rebuke  of  the  action  of  the  American  Bible  Society. 

Fourth. — The  Society  has  claims  on  the  grateful  remembrance  and  con¬ 
tinued  support  of  all  Baptists,  for  its  timely  aid  in  printing  and  publishing 
the  translations  of  Judson  and  Yates,  and  of  others  of  our  missionaries  in 
heathen  lands. 

Fifth. — The  Society  has  a  history  inseparably  interwoven  with  the  labors 
of  our  foreign  missionaries  for  half  a  century,  in  giving  the  Word  of  God, 
faithfully  translated,  to  all  the  heathen  lands. 

Sixth. — This  history  belongs  to  the  Denomination  which  called  the 
Society  into  existence,  and  should  not  be  wrested  from  it,  by  blotting  out 
the  name  and  memory  of  the  Society  itself. 


Portland,  New  Brunswick,  April  16th ,  1883. 
Rev.  T.  J.  Stewart,  writes  as  follows: — 

Dear  Brother: — About  our  great  Bible  meeting.  As  the  time  ap¬ 
proaches,  I  am  feeling  anxious.  I  do  trust  that  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church  will  give  grace  and  wisdom. 

Recent  discussions  ought  to  sharpen  the  sword,  which  I  trust,  is  soon 
to  cut  us  away  from  pedo-baptist  concessions.  The  Bible,  the  whole  Bible, 
and  nothing  but  the  Bible,  must  be  our  motto.  My  opinion  is,  that  we  as 
Baptists  must  translate  the  whole  Bible  according  to  the  best  ability 
among  our  men,  and  put  that  Bible  in  our  pulpits,  and  stand  behind  that 
Bible  and  preach  Jesus.  We  must  raise  money  and  publish  that  Bible  in 
all  the  world,  and  give  God’s  truth  to  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Oh,  what 
a  grand  opening  before  us  to  serve  the  cause  of  truth.  I  believe  that  we 


j6 

should  equip  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  as  a  Denomi¬ 
nation  stand  by  that  Society  with  our  prayers  and  our  money,  I  think  all 
other  societies  should  retire  from  the  field,  and  give  the  American  and 
Foreign  full  sway. 

There  is  plenty  of  work  for  the  other  societies  to  do,  without  publish¬ 
ing  the  coming  Bible. 

Baptist  people  here  are  waking  up,  and  want  to  know  where  cheir 
money  is  going  to  which  is  paid  into  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  and  as  far  as  I  am  able,  I  tell  them. 

These  provinces  are  ripe  for  the  sickle,  a  good  harvest  could  be  reaped 
here  for  Bible  work.  But  things  must  be  simplified  and  made  plain.  If 
there  is  to  be  proper  Bible  work,  as  I  hope,  things  must  not  be  misunder¬ 
stood,  but  if  money  is  solicited  for  publication  societies  and  all  the  rest  of 
it,  things  will  then  become  mixed,  and  nothing  will  be  the  result.  Our 
ministers  think  I  ought  to  attend  the  coming  meeting.  Will  you  please 
inform  me  of  the  date  of  the  meeting.  I  have  learned  that  it  is  to  be 
held  in  Saratoga. 


TRANSLATE,  OR  TRANSLITERATE,  WHICH? 

In  social,  political,  religious  life,  in  the  arts,  sciences,  and  commerce,  in 
all  the  grand  forces  that  appear  in  the  advancing  and  pre-eminently 
Christian  civilization  of  the  present  age,  dead  issues  pale  before  the  living, 
throbbing  epoch,  foreshadowing  a  coming  day  of  a  greater  effulgence 
because  of  the  reign  of  the  King  in  his  glory,  than  our  poor,  dark  world 
ever  saw.  The  Word  is  not  returning  void.  The  Word  of  the  Lord  is  at 
the  root  of  the  Tree  of  Error.  All  revolutions  and  progress  are  born  of 
and  grow  by  the  Word  of  God  unto  perfection.  The  Author  of  the  Book 
is  not  dead,  but  ever  liveth.  The  Book  of  God,  made  in  the  East,  for  the 
East,  is  in  the  East  (as  well  as  the  West).  Its  presence  in  India  precipitated 
the  Sepoy  Rebellion.  Out  of  the  ashes  of  a  mission  house,  and  books,  and 
Bibles  consumed  by  the  fire  lighted  by  that  rebellion,  ascended  from  the 
hearts  of  a  little  company  of  missionaries  the  prayer  that  gave  to  the  world 
“The  Week  of  Prayer,”  which  like  the  zones,  belts  the  globe.  The  Book 
studied,  proclaimed,  loved  the  world  around,  hence  what  may  be  most 
appropriately  termed  the  Great  Bible  Revival  now  gathering  into  itself  all 
the  tributaries  of  true  Biblical  knowledge — all  deep,  spiritual  and  vivifying 
forces  in  its  onward  flow  around  the  world,  no  Satanic  agency  of  idolatry, 
superstition,  and  infidelity  can  arrest.  All  these  combined,  would  be  as 
futile  as  a  single  human  hand  to  arrest  the  floods  of  the  Amazon  as  they 
slip  to  the  sea,  or  the  plunge  of  the  waters  of  Niagara  as  they  leap  to  the 
abyss  below.  “  Go  make  proclamation  of  the  good  news  to  all  the  world,” 
is  the  Master’s  great  command.  “All  power  is  mine  ;  the  victory  is  sure  ; 


17 


I  will  reign  from  sea  to  sea,  and,  being  lifted  up  will  draw  all  men  unto 
me.”  Whosoever  is  faint-hearted  let  him  gird  himself  with  the  promises  of 
Jehovah. 

The  world  waits  for  a  pure  and  faithful  copy  of  the  Word  of  God  in  all 
its  myriad  tongues.  The  Holy  Spirit  will  never  use  other  than  His  own 
inspired  thoughts  for  the  regeneration  of  sinners  and  the  sanctification  of 
saints.  Hence  a  pure  Bible  is  of  infinite  moment.  No  Bible  society  is 
worthy  the  name  whose  one  purpose  is  not  to  give  such  a  Bible  to  all  the 
race. 

But  such  a  Bible  means  a  fully  translated  Bible,  certainly  not  excepting 
the  English  Bible.  How  emphatic  the  answer  in  the  article  below  to  the 
pertinent  question,  Shall  we  Translate  or  Transliterate  the  Original  Scrip¬ 
tures — the  former  wherever  possible — and  if  the  former,  are  we  not  com¬ 
pelled  to  translate  Baptizo  and  its  cognate  forms  by  Immerse  and  Immersion, 
and  to  discontinue  the  use  of  Baptise  and  Baptism  in  the  English  Bible  ? 

The  following  article  is  taken,  by  permission  of  its  author,  Dr.  Conant, 
from  a  paper  read  before  the  Conference  of  Baptist  Ministers,  New  York, 
May  17th,  1880,  in  which  we  have  the  answer  to  this  vital  question  : — 

“  A  question  has  arisen  among  us,  in  regard  to  the  transfer  or  the  trans¬ 
lation  of  the  Greek  word  Baptizo  and  its  cognate  forms,  etc.,  Baptisma.  It  is 
contended  by  some  of  the  advocates  for  transferring,  that  these  words  can 
not  be  translated.  It  is  the  ground  taken  by  our  opponents  long  ago.  Find¬ 
ing  themselves  worsted  in  the  argument  from  Greek  writers,  they  took 
refuge  in  an  assumed  religious  sense  in  the  New  Testament  ;  a  sense  which 
can  be  expressed  by  no  merely  secular  word.  And  we  are  asked  to  believe 
that  our  Saviour  commissioned  his  apostles  to  go  into  all  the  world,  with  a 
message  which  cannot  be  translated  into  the  languages  of  the  world  ;  so 
that  none  can  ever  hear  or  read  the  message  in  their  own  tongue.  Others 
claim  the  transfer,  because  the  action  expressed  by  the  word  cannot  cer¬ 
tainly  be  determined  ;  and  we  are  asked  to  believe  that  our  Saviour 
requires  of  every  disciple  a  certain  act  of  obedience,  and  no  one  can  ever 
find  out  what  that  act  is.  It  is  also  claimed  on  the  ground  that  with  this 
transfer  all  sects  can  use  the  same  version,  and  we  are  asked  to  surrender 
our  fidelity  to  God’s  Word,  for  the  questionable  advantage  of  such  a  ver¬ 
sion  that  decides  nothing  on  the  point  at  issue,  and  leaves  the  way  open  to 
endless  controversy.  Translation  decides  the  controversy  and  ends  it  j  for  only 
one  translation  can  be  given  it.  Our  opponents  can  debate  the  meaning  of  the 
word  as  long  as  we  can,  and  print  ten  books  to  our  one.  But  we  can  trans¬ 
late  the  words  in  the  New  Testament,  and  they  can  not.  Bring  it  to  that 
test,  and  the  controversy  is  ended.  The  writers  of  the  New  Testament 
wrote  to  be  understood,  and  as  they  wrote  in  the  Greek  language,  they 
used  the  Greek  words  as  they  were  understood  by  those  to  whom  they 
wrote,  who  spoke  and  read  that  language.  To  deny  this  is  to  accuse  them, 
either  of  ignorance,  or  of  a  deliberate  purpose,  to  mystify  or  befog  their 
readers.  How  these  words  were  understood,  has  been  shown  by  the  latest 


i8 


and  most  trustworthy  Greek  lexicons  ;  as  well  as  by  abundant  citations  of 
theii  use  in  Greek  writings,  including  those  of  the  Church  fathers,  during 
the  whole  period  in  which  the  Greek  was  a  living  language.  Only  the  most 
ingenious  sophistry  can  evade  the  truth.  The  same  meaning  is  expressed 
in  the  ancient  versions  ;  in  the  oldest  Latin  version,  quoted  by  Tertullian 
in  the  second  century  and  by  Cyprian  half  a  century  later  ;  in  the  ancient 
Syriac,  last  half  of  the  second  or  early  in  the  third  century  ;  in  the  Gothic, 
last  half  of  the  fourth  century  ;  and  in  the  modern  European  versions,  the 
lower  Saxon,  1470-80  ;  one  of  the  earliest  German,  1473-75  I  Luther’s 
German  version  of  the  New  Testament,  1522  ;  Dutch  version  ;  Swedish 
and  Danish  ;  and  in  all  versions  for  the  learned,  where  the  meaning  is  pro¬ 
fessedly  given. 

This  meaning,  immersion,  is  recognized  in  the  requirements  and  prac¬ 
tice  of  the  three  oldest  and  most  widely  extended  branches  of  the  Christian 
Church  ;  the  Eastern  or  Greek  Church,  the  Western,  or  Latin  Church,  and 
the  Anglican  Church  ;  all  requiring  immersion  in  the  ‘Sacrament  of  Bap¬ 
tism,’  with  the  proviso  in  the  Anglican  :  ‘  unless  the  child  be  unable  to  bear 
it,’  immersion.  The  Church  Fathers,  both  Greek  and  Latin,  founded  their 
instructions  on  this  meaning  of  the  words,  and  on  the  practice  of  the 
Church  in  accordance  with  it  ;  Cyril,  Bishop  of  Jerusalem,  Basil,  Bishop 
of  Caesarea,  Athanasius,  Bishop  of  Alexandria,  Tertullian,  Presbyter  o 
Carthage.  Ambrose,  Bishop  of  Milan.  And  this  meaning  of  these  Greek 
words  is  claimed  by  eminent  men  in  different  branches  of  the  modern 
Church  ;  by  Alexander  de  Stourdza,  of  the  Greek  Church,  bv  Maldonatus, 
and  by  Estius,  both  distinguished  scholars  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  ; 
by  Bishop  Jeremy  Taylor,  of  the  Church  of  England  ;  by  Luther,  Calvin, 
and  Zwingli  ;  by  Limborch,  Professor  of  Theology  among  the  Remon¬ 
strants  ;  by  Turretin,  German  Professor  of  Theology  ;  by  Meyer,  and 
Fritzsche,  Lutheran  ;  and  by  Connybeare,  and  Howson,  of  the  Church  of 
England.  With  such  a  cloud  of  witnesses  in  the  long  past  and  in  the  pres¬ 
ent,  we  need  not  feel  that  we  are  waging  a  solitary  warfare.  More  are  they 
that  are  for  us  than  they  that  are  against  us.  I  conclude  with  the  state¬ 
ment  of  the  following  well  ascertained  facts  : 

First. — That  what  we  claim  to  be  the  true  and  only  meaning,  viz.,  Im¬ 
mersion,  of  the  Greek  word  Baptizo,  and  of  its  cognate  forms,  has  often 
been  proved  by  the  uniform  usage  of  Greek  writers,  both  Pagan  and 
Christian. 

Second. — That  as  has  now  been  shown,  it  accords  with  the  religious 
instructions  of  the  earliest  Christian  writers  ;  and  also  with  the  require¬ 
ments  and  practice  of  the  whole  Christian  Church,  till  within  a  compara¬ 
tively  recent  time. 

Third. — That  Immersion,  or  its  equivalents,  is  the  rendering  of  ancient 
versions  sanctioned  by  the  use  of  the  Church,  and  still  retained  in  the  ver¬ 
nacular  versions  of  Northern  Europe. 


i9 


Fourth. — That  it  is  the  only  rendering  of  the  words  in  any  version 
sanctioned  by  early  use  in  the  Church,  and  is  the  only  one  used  by  scholars 
in  their  versions  and  expositions  for  the  learned. 

Fifth. — That  recent  and  living  scholars,  without  distinction  of  ecclesias¬ 
tical  relations,  unite  in  asserting  Immerse  and  its  cognate  forms  to  be  the 
true  meaning  of  the  Greek  words.  Such  a  rendering  belongs  to  no  one 
branch  of  the  Church.  It  is  Catholic  ;  sanctioned  by  all  that  can  entitle 
any  rendering  to  universal  acceptation.  Whatever  else  may  be  said  of  it, 
it  cannot,  with  any  show  of  reason,  be  called  sectarian. 

Finally. — We,  as  a  Denomination,  are  intrusted  with  a  high  mission  ; 
being  the  only  body  of  Christians  throughout  the  world  who  stand  by  the 
New  Testament  requirement  of  a  Baptism  (immersion),  on  personal  pro¬ 
fession  of  faith  in  Christ  ;  symbolical  and  representative  of  his  burial  and 
resurrection,  and  of  the  believer’s  burial  with  him,  and  rising  again  to 
newness  of  life.  It  behoves  us  to  be  faithful  to  this  mission  ;  and  to  carry 
this  Divine  teaching,  clearly  and  unmistakably  expressed,  wherever  we 
send  the  Word  of  God,  in  our  own  and  all  other  languages.” — See  my  work 
on  “ Baptazeinf  pages ,  88-90. 


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